Institutes
At Berklee, you'll encounter a wide range of musicians and genres, and, therefore, endless opportunities to explore every corner of the contemporary music universe. Berklee provides 12 institutes that allow you to deepen your focus in particular areas. Students participating in these programs will enjoy a range of multidisciplinary studies concentrating on history, performance, composition, improvisation, the social power of music, and many other topics.
- American Roots Music Program
This program explores America's musical and cultural heritage, focusing on styles such as country, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, Tex-Mex, and others. The curriculum focuses on ensemble playing and nontraditional improvisation, and will present visiting artists, concerts, and symposiums. Matt Glaser is the artistic director.
- Berklee Global Jazz Institute
This is a performance program in which students are given opportunities to explore their creativity and musicianship to the highest level possible, advance the social power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment. Danilo Pérez is the artistic director.
- Berklee India Exchange
Berklee India Exchange (BIX) celebrates the spirit of India through innovative arts experiences that entertain, educate, and engage. Under the leadership of Annette Philip, artistic director, BIX harnesses India’s rich heritage of music and entrepreneurial DNA to provide students with unique performance and touring opportunities, industry-relevant workshops, career pathways, financial assistance, and mentorship. Building collaborative dynamism between Berklee, India, and the world, BIX projects foster global industry relationships while specifically supporting music education in India through customized Berklee workshops, family counseling, and scholarships for students in the region.
- Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs
This institute is a catalyst for the inclusion of individuals with special needs in all aspects of performing and visual arts education. The institute provides arts education programs for people with disabilities, academic programs and courses for graduate and undergraduate students, and professional development programs for educators and artists. Rhoda Bernard is the managing director.
- Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship
The fast-evolving music industry requires the next generation of leaders to be boldly creative and innovative. The Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE) provides learning and research opportunities, visiting lecturers, a company start-up accelerator, and more, all designed to inspire, educate, and launch the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. Panos Panay is the founding managing director.
- Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice focuses on equity in the jazz field and the role that jazz plays in the larger struggle for gender justice. Terri Lyne Carrington is the founder and artistic director.
- Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute
This institute provides an innovative opportunity for students to collaborate with artists across the globe and across disciplines, including dance, theater, video/sculpture installation, experimental performance, robotics, virtual reality, and other emerging genres. Neil Leonard is the artistic director.
- Berklee Music and Health Institute
The Berklee Music and Health Institute is focused on the intersection of music, medicine, and health, and partners with experts in medicine, academia, technology, and the music industry to share cutting-edge tools, programs, research, and practices. Joy Allen is the acting director.
- Berklee Popular Music Institute
An immersive education program, this institute gives students the opportunity to interface with all facets of the music industry, including working in A&R, artist development, recording, booking, promotion, social media, sponsorship, and live shows. Students are paired with artists, and the collaborations culminate with placements at major summer festivals. Jeff Dorenfeld is the artistic director.
- Effortless Mastery Institute
The Effortless Mastery Institute helps Berklee students reclaim their inner voice and their connection to music by teaching them how to overcome physical and mental obstacles that keep them from performing at their highest levels. Kenny Werner is the artistic director. - Mediterranean Music Institute
Music from the Mediterranean, with its non-Western instruments, tonal systems, and rhythmic forms, brings the promise of exciting new musical fusions and opportunities for both musicians and audiences. This program stimulates cultural exchange of the folk-based music traditions of the various regions of the Mediterranean, internationally promotes these traditions, and supports young and emerging talent from the area. Matthew Nicholl is the executive director, and Javier Limón is the artistic director.
- Planet MicroJam Institute
The Planet MicroJam Institute collides sonic esthetics from our increasingly connected global village to create music that sounds like a Gauguin painting—a raw, powerful, and extremely colorful mix of Eastern and Western elements. David Fiuczynski is the artistic director.